The Traitors star Keith’s time on the BBC show may have been cut prematurely – but he claims he managed to suss out Claudia Winkleman’s true intentions.
The 65-year-old window cleaner is talking to Metro via Zoom from his home in Bournemouth the day after viewers learned he was brutally murdered by the Traitors.
Despite being culled by Minah, Armani and Linda as ‘collateral damage’ to set up Charlotte, who is inexplicably faking a Welsh accent, Keith had the ‘best experience’ of his life because he knew Claudia had his back.
‘She really cares for the faithfuls,’ he reveals, before spilling that he believes Claudia has a secret bias.
‘She wants the faithfuls to get the traitors, even though she knows who they are. She’s more on the faithful side.’
Keith adds: ‘Claudia is my favourite. She is absolutely fantastic. Meeting Claudia was the highlight of the game for me.’
With Traitors, we all know to expect the unexpected yet Keith was still in total disbelief over the first brutal challenge. Before even reaching the castle, three players had to volunteer to leave the game.
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‘I couldn’t believe it,’ Keith recalls. He says he was adamant – there was ‘no way’ – he would give up at the first hurdle.
Now, though, he ‘wishes’ he took the risk, particularly after his early departure, as viewers have speculated Jack, Alexander and Fozia will return later in the game.
As for his murder (so to speak), Keith said he was ‘gobsmacked.’ So were many people at home, who felt he had been ‘robbed’ of showing his true potential.
Keith’s elimination was also a blow because he was certain he had been recruited by the traitors when he saw the envelope.
He recals: ‘I was absolutely gobsmacked when I walked into that room and I saw the letter on the chair. I thought I was being recruited. I was very excited.
‘I thought I was being recruited because I thought there was no way they were going to murder me – not this quick anyway.
‘Then I read it and guess what? I was murdered. I absolutely couldn’t believe it.’
Keith believes his ultimate failing was being too ‘nice’ and establishing himself as a strong team player with sway over the other contestants. He was even told by a family member to ditch the nice act.
He says: ‘My son said to me, “Dad, when you go into Traitors, just try and be a bit more cagey. Just don’t be yourself.” But I can’t do that. What you see is what you get with me.’
Keith was indeed his authentic self in the castle and insists he had no game plan. The only tiny secret he had yet to divulge is that he’s a black belt in taekwondo.
He says: ‘Nobody knew that. And to be a black belt, you’re going to be focused, you’re going to be you’re going to be dedicated and my trick was to be focused.’
The Traitors continues tonight at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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